Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity: A Practical Guide for Women Forty and Older [Paperback]

Deborah Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2008

Here is a detailed, easy-to-use guidebook for women forty and older on how to use gentle but powerful traditional Chinese exercises, breathing techniques, massage, meditation, and vocalizations to promote health, fitness, relaxation, and mental clarity; improve stamina; and even treat specific health concerns. Acupuncturist and longtime qigong practitioner Deborah Davis explains the traditional Chinese approach to health and the various components of qigong practice; gives general health routines for women in specific age groups; and offers do-it-yourself practices and routines for specific health issues including insomnia, hypertension and heart disease, menopause, sexual vitality, breast health, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and depression.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity is loaded with practical, effective, and transformational information and practices to help all midlife women maintain vibrant health.”—Christiane Northrup, MD

“Having personally experienced the 'magic' of qigong many years ago, I am delighted to see this insightful handbook. As a bone health specialist you can bet I'll recommend that all my clients look into Davis' qigong exercises for osteoporosis.”—Susan E. Brown, PhD, CNS, Director of the Osteoporosis Education Project

“This is the most understandable workbook of qigong exercises that I have come across.  Deborah Davis covers the basics in simple terms with personal comments. While written specifically for women, the book begins with an excellent overview of qigong and its techniques.  I’ve already recommended it to some male friends.”—Anna Jedrziewski, Spirit Connection New York, NY, New Age Retailer

About the Author

Deborah Davis, LAc, MAOM, has been an alternative health care practitioner for more than twenty-five years, specializing in women’s health issues. She received her masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine. Her video The Spirit of Qigong was named one of the top three resources on the topic by Spirituality & Health magazine. Davis teaches qigong at numerous conferences, health centers, and spas throughout the country.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1 edition (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159030537X
• ISBN-13: 978-1590305379
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.5 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book & DVD, January 18, 2009

By 

M. Howell "Dixie Howell" (Brunswick GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity: A Practical Guide for Women Forty and Older (Paperback)

As a personal trainer, senior fitness specialist, mind body specialist, tai chi and yoga teacher I am always looking for wonderful things to add to my classes.

"Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity" by Deborah Davis is an excellent choice. The information is easy to understand and relates well to our modern lifestyle. The exercises are explained well and easy to follow. The six healing sounds and accompanying movements are a beneficial addition to any fitness routine or program.

The specialized chapters: Breast Health, Menopause, Depression, Heart Health etc. help each person set up a program specific to their own needs. This is an added bonus.

Deborah's Dvd "The Spirit of Qi Gong" which contains the six healing sounds and their accompaning exercises is a valuable addition to your wellness library, again it is easy to understand and follow and makes you feel wonderful while doing it as well as when you are finished.

I highly recommend both the book and the dvd to beginners, or those like me who have been practicing for years.

Dixie Howell

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best, December 9, 2008

By 

Kathryn Shimmura - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity: A Practical Guide for Women Forty and Older (Paperback)

I used to be intimidated by the thought of learning qi gong (chi gong) - I thought you had to find a master and then work really hard before you could be any good at it. Well, true, in order to be a master, one probably does have to train for a long time, but there are a number of great resources available for learning simple, beginning forms of qi gong to improve your health and energy level. This is one of them. The instructions and pictures make each exercise fairly easy to learn but I'm a person who prefers to be shown how to do something. So I got the author's DVD "The Spirit of Qi Gong" as a companion to the book and am very pleased with both. Many of the exercises in the book are included on the DVD and once you get used to the way they are done, you can pick up the ones that are not on the DVD from the book.
I am pleased that the book focuses on women from 40 and older because I would like to learn how to move into a healthy old age rather than being riddled with chronic diseases, having to take a lot of medications and gradually becoming more and more decrepit.
If you decide to explore qi gong, be aware that there are a number of different forms, that it's part of the huge body of Chinese knowledge which includes Tai Chi, acupuncture, martial arts and herbal medicine( and no doubt other subjects). Look for books and DVDs which give clear, concise directions and explanations and pictures. Take a class if that's available and be patient with yourself. At the beginner's level, the exercises are simple and easy to learn, graceful and rewarding.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A book on qigong for women by a woman!!!, August 12, 2008

By 

jerilee (Milwaukie, OR, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity: A Practical Guide for Women Forty and Older (Paperback)

I stumbled upon Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity while looking in a magazine while at a hotel in Ashland, Oregon. There was an article on a local author. I tried to find the book at a couple of bookstores while in Ashland with no luck. I decided to try Amazon as soon as I returned home. No wonder I couldn't find it -- it hadn't been released yet. So I pre-ordered it that day. As soon as I received it and read it, I ordered three more copies to give to my friends! It's a fabulous book! (I studied tai chi and qigong for eight years, but had fallen out of practice.) Now, I am starting to practice again, thanks to finding this book. The information in the book is invaluable to women of any age. It's never too early to start protecting your health and learning to "work your qi" is the best way to start. The book has different routines for different age levels so it can be used for decades! Deborah Davis explains qi and the five element system in a way that is easily understood even without a tai chi/qigong background. I am truly grateful that I have found this book and you will be, too. Buy a couple (get free shipping) and share with friends -- you'll be glad you did!!!